Bringing the children to see Santa and let them tell him their wishes for Christmas is hands down one of those traditions and parenting moments we all look forward to all year.
Unlike back in the day when a trip to see Santa involved a no-frills pressie following a rather long wait in your local shopping center, these days seeing Santa is all about train rides and magical forests and reindeer and sleighs and buckets of hot chocolate (bonus for mulled wine for us parents!).
And if you have yet to book yours yet, fear not. Here is out super-duper Santa guide to where to meet the man himself all over Ireland this holiday season:
Cork
Fota Island
Dates: November 27th – December 3rd
Features: First it was Believe, last year it was Imagine – this year, Santa and his Elves have a magical Christmas experience called ‘WISH’ in store for lucky families in Cork. As with many things at Christmas it’s a secret ….. but it promises to be great fun. Ho Ho Ho!
Bookings: FotaWish
Dublin
Newbridge House and Farm, Donabate, Co. Dublin
Dates: 5th December until 24th December
Features: Be brought through the house where Santa stays before Christmas and see where he eats dinner, writes his nice list and relaxes with Mrs Claus and his elves. Meet the man himself and receive a present from him. Then enjoy the farm and visit the deer park where Rudolf and all his buddies stay while at Newbridge House and Farm.
Booking: EventBrite
Powerscourt Town Centre, Dublin City
Dates: All Saturdays and Sundays in December
Features: Arriving to the joyful melodies of the Lazus Children’s Choir on December 5th, Dublin’s most popular Father Christmas’ alongside Mrs. Claus and the playful elves will welcome families and shoppers with triumphant delight. From the moment you enter Santa’s workshop, families will feel as if they have landed in the North Pole and children will get a real winter wonderland experience. Greeted by a toasty fire and twinkling lights, the whole experience will be a truly magical experience for big and little kids alike.
Airfield, Dundrum
Dates: From Saturday 14th November to Tuesday 22nd December
Features: Set over 38 acres of a working farm in Dundrum, Christmas at Airfield Estate is a magical time of year. Giant nutcracker soldiers, twinkling lights, traditional Christmas decorations and a warm elf welcome await before you step into Santa’s cottage for a magical experience with story-telling and gifts. Santa’s reindeers will also be at Airfield Estate this year so every boy and girl will get the chance to meet with them before viewing Santa and Mrs. Claus’s bedroom, taking part in our Christmas fairy trail, warming up with a hot chocolate and writing their own Santa letter and posting to the North Pole.
Whether your on the naughty or nice list, Airfield Estate has something for everyone this year.
Booking: Airfield.ie
Santa’s Enchanted Forest, Luggwoods, Saggart
Dates: From 29th November until 23rd December
Features: “Tales of fairies old and new, magical, different point of view. Talking trees and twinkling lights and lots of other wild delights. Let your inner child journey through this magical land of forgotten wonder, up up and away towards Santa’s hidden grotto. Time is starting to stand still, you just wait and see!”
Bookings: Luggwoods.ie
Meath
Causey Farm
Dates: November 29th – December 22nd
Features: Visit Santa’s house and help Mrs Claus pack his bag for the big journey. Slide down into the toy workshop and play with the toys Santa has ready for packing. Santa has a gift for all the children – hope your name is on one of his parcels! And of course don’t forget to Visit the reindeer as they relax before their big night. Causey Christmas Experience lasts one and a half hours.
Booking: Causey.ie
Slane Castle
Dates: November 29th – December 22nd
Features: Be transported on a magical tour throughout the Castle rooms to meet with a host of fairytale characters & scenes before seeing Santa himself! Be awestruck by enchanted experiences full of frosty family fun including their very own North Pole style workshop. Each child will receive a gift and can get a professional photograph taken to keep as a memoir for years to come.
Booking: Ticket solve
Tayto Park
Dates: 28th November – 23rd December
Features: Huge toy soldiers and Santa’s own elves lead the way into his grotto where you’ll find the tallest lollipops, chocolate snowman, polar bears and giant gingerbread men magically transform the Rafter Room into a real life land of Candy Canes. Waiting for you at the end of the room, with a twinkle in his eye and a very special present for every boy and girl is Santa Claus himself. Don’t forget to tell him how good you’ve been! His elves will help him with his gifts for all the boys and girls!
Bookings: TaytoParkSanta
Newry, Co. Down
Santa’s Cottage
Dates: 20th November – 24th December
Features: All ages from 1 to 101 are welcome to visit this unique Santa experience in the Mournes. Guests will also be invited into the comfort of Santa’s Underground Cottage. This is a beautiful building unlike any other in Ireland that will provide a warm place for visitors to sit down and relax in a unique Christmas environment. The main hall has a wooden floor and roof and entertainment will be provided for Santa’s guests. The centre piece of the hall is the large stone fire-place and visitors will get the chance to see Mr. Claus himself arrive down through the chimney. Each family will then get their own individual time with Santa beside the glowing fire inside the old cottage. This is a chance for the children to have a chat with Santa and tell him what they would like for Christmas. Here each child will receive a gift from Santa. The old cottage is also the perfect place to take some special family photos with Mr. Claus.
Booking: SantaCottage
Waterford
Winterval
Dates: November 20th – December 23rd
Features: Come and join us on a wonderfully exciting journey through the all new enchanting North Pole Santa experience at the award winning medieval museum. Along the way you will explore the enchanted garden, climb aboard the Polar Express Train, seek out all the little critters hard at work, ramble through the elf’s living quarters, jump in to the bunk beds and wander around little houses before popping into see the man himself, Santa Claus where you will get to give your wish list, receive a lovely gift and have your photo taken. It’s a must do adventure for all our little (and not so little) visitors.
Booking: Winterval
Wicklow
Avondale Forest Train
Dates: December 4th – 23rd
Features: When the train reaches its secret destination deep in the forest, Noodle the Elf will lead all the families into Santa’s workshop. The elves are waiting to meet all the children and there will be plenty of fun, songs and dancing while you wait to see Santa. From his office, overlooking the workshop floor, each family will be called to see Santa individually. After your Santa visit, there will be lots to do in the magnificent Christmas Barn. There will be a very special story-time, taking place each hour.
Booking: AvondaleForestTrain
The Rathwood Santa Train
Dates: November 26th – December 23rd
Features: Take a magical journey on board the Rathwood Santa Train and watch out for Rudolf and the other Reindeer along the way. Each family will meet Santa individually & each child will get a special gift from Santa. Free HOT Chocolate & Rathwood Activity Book for every Child booked in to visit Santa
Booking: SantaTrain.ie
Kilkenny
The Santa Village at Mt Juliet, Thomastown
Dates: From 4th until the 23rd December
Features: Take a trip to elf school, meet Mrs. Claus in her gingerbread kitchen, and enjoy a journey on the Santa Train. The train goes through a “mystical forest”, passing Rudolph and the other reindeer, then passengers follow a pathway up to Santa’s grotto for that all important meeting.
Booking: TheSantaVillage.ie
Galway
Loughwell Farm Park
Dates: 29th November until 22nd December
Features: You will experience a blizzard of Christmas cheer as you step into our Barn Yard Theatre which will be transformed into a magical Winter Wonderland for Santa, Santa’s elves and his magic balloon clown to feel at home. For the children, there will be face painting, animal balloon making from the clown, letter writing to Santa and a magical trip through the miniature working Christmas village. Oh, and there is mulled wine and mince pies for adult too!
Booking: Loughwellfarmpark.ie
Donegal
Santa’s Island,
Dates: 26th November until 16th December
Features: The whole show takes place in the dark of night with thousands of lights for special effects to add to the whole experience. Don’t miss your chance to bust some moves at the elves disco, and visit Santa’s home, see what he eats for breakfast and visit the elves’ bedroom. You can explore Santa’s office and the children can write and post their list for Christmas, as well as visit the toy factory and check out the Elves Kingdom through the magical tunnel.
Booking: Donegalslapland.ie
